Questions and Answers about The Abbeyfield Society

Bad management, some poor caring staff

At Abbeyfield, we believe that great care starts with great people and we’re always keen to hear from people who share our commitment to enhancing the lives of older people in the UK..

To prepare for an interview we would recommend showing a willingness to learn and further your career, have done some research into Abbeyfield and what we stand for and most importantly are yourself.

Applying for a role with Abbeyfield couldn't be easier. Once you've found your perfect role you simply need to click apply and register your details - this will allow you to log in at any time to check the status of your application or apply for another role.

Once you've registered you can upload your CV or fill in an application form for your selected job.

If there are no roles currently available which match your criterias you can also sign up for job alerts so we can notify you about new roles. Once you receive an alert you'll be able to view the job and decide whether to apply - easy right?!

When we’ve received your application, we’ll review it based on your qualifications, experience and values. For example, in our front line roles we look for key attributes like respect for others, compassion, commitment, trustworthiness and team working.

If selected for a role, you’ll have a simple interview and open chat where we take the time to get to know you, find out more about what you can bring to the role and a chance to find out more about Abbeyfield and what to expect in the role.

Most services have a rota, which sets out the shift patterns available. When a post becomes vacant, start and finish times and days to be worked are set out in the advert. Where we are able to offer an element of flexibility regarding start and finish times, weekly hours worked, and on which days, this will be stated in the advert. Once staff are working for us, naturally they have the right to request flexible working, which we do try to accommodate if we can. We also offer a number of Casual (Bank Worker) roles, where we offer shifts when they become available, and you choose whether you can work them. Bank workers are usually paid the same hourly rate as our permanent staff.

You can view our rewards and benefits here: https://abbeyfield.com/careers/rewards-and-benefits-of-working-at-abbeyfield/

Some examples include:
- Competitive Pay
- Company Pension
- Employee Discount Scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

You can find the holiday entitlement in the ‘Package Description’ section of the job advert. The entitlement stated is generally based upon a full time employee (35 hours a week or more). Any roles that are classed as part time would need to be calculated pro rata.

We strive to create an atmosphere in our Homes that ensures our residents enjoy the best lived experience we can provide. So our core behaviours are around being welcoming to all people, and emphasising the positive with everyone we meet and care for, and in everything we do for our residents, our staff and our local community.

Providing consistently good quality care can be challenging but it is very rewarding. At Abbeyfield we're committed to ensuring residents get what they need, when they need it. So you will be expected to take responsibility for getting things done in a timely way. And like any business, we are constantly looking for ways to improve. But luckily, some of our core behaviours are around being collaborative and adaptable, so we do actively consult and take people with us on any changes that may affect them.

Most services have a rota, which sets out the shift patterns available. When a post becomes vacant, start and finish times and days to be worked are set out in the advert. Where we are able to offer an element of flexibility regarding start and finish times, weekly hours worked, and on which days, this will be stated in the advert. Once staff are working for us, naturally they have the right to request flexible working, which we do try to accommodate if we can. We also offer a number of Casual (Bank Worker) roles, where we offer shifts when they become available, and you choose whether you can work them. Bank workers are usually paid the same hourly rate as our permanent staff.

Feedback is an essential mechanism for enhancing self-awareness and therefore the contribution we can each make in our Homes to our residents’ lived experience. So in addition to our annual appraisal process, our supportive managers hold regular one to one discussions with our staff. Feedback is a two way process at Abbeyfield, so we also survey our staff to ask them how they feel about management.